Thursday, March 25, 2010

She started out as a decorative painter. After studying fine art in Paris, Lulu DK got a decorative painting job in New York City, and the rest, as they say, is history. Her apartment showcased her talents, and after it ran in Elle Decor, her phone started ringing. I still have those tear sheets, because they offer an inspiring mix of global elements, with mementos of travels in far off lands. The arched Moorish doorway she created helped kick off an obsession for the exotic. Creative instincts led her to starting her own graphic printed fabric line. Companies started to take notice of her keen design eye, and soon, deals with Elite Leather furniture and bedding with Matouk followed. Her artistic side came through in her watercolors and sketches, which became the foundation for an elaborate scrapbook tome, Lulu, a creative collage of her travels. After years as a New Yorker, Lulu recently relocated to sunny California with her twins in tow. I decided to check in with her about her new life on the left coast. Since her move, she has ramped up her website, added a new blog called Trail of Inspiration, where she talks about her creative process. She seems to be loving the LA way of life. As an artist, the light in LA and lifestyle change would surely affect her creative sensibilities. I wondered what life was like for her now, and caught up with her by email the other day.

Brand new from her 2010 Matouk Collection, the charming Lulu's Garden Charlotte floral with an all over pattern of hydrangea blooms on green stems comes in blue, coral and yellow.

Also from Lulu's Garden collection is Mirabella, a mixed flowers pattern in a great yellow and coral combination. After success came her initial collection, a super cute baby bedding line followed.

Charlotte hand towels with tonal embroidery of a single fresh hydrangea bloom add pop to a powder room.

The Charlotte Pillows will go over well with the guys since they can re-imagine the hydrangea and stem as a teed- up golf ball!

Lilly Pillows in coordinating colors

Lulu can create custom designed fabric, just ask!

The new Palm Springs Wallpaper design. Her fabrics and papers are now available through Donghia showrooms.

Her fabrics coordinate well with each other. They start out as watercolors and sketches and then get transformed into print screens.

The new Bloomsbury print

So what is Lulu loving in LA?

Being a true NY-er I wasn't so sure about LA living immediately, but now I must admit, I have taken to it like a bee to honey. I really love all the plant/ floral life here, honestly, sometimes I feel like I am in Africa- there is such a wide variety of nature here. So I really love that about LA. I also love my house and studio...They are perfect.

Favorite coffee: I don't drink coffee, but the best juice place is News Room Cafe on Robertson...all the shakes and juice concoctions one could ask for.

Hiking Park: Tree People on Mulholland drive...amazing variety of plants and tree. loved taking the babies when they were in baby-Bjorn's.

Fresh Flower arrangements for dinner parties and to say thank you: I love Moe's flowers on 8101 Melrose Ave...it isn't cheap but so nice to walk around and see the beautiful sprouting flowers and arrangements everywhere. It has an organic feel and in season their entire building is covered in vines...really beautiful. Also Rolling Greens just opened at 7505 Beverly Blvd., it is fabulous.

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